Good church service today. The pastor gave a solid message about the importance of retreat and prayer in times when one is being praised. I gave the opening prayer, which provided me to say a little something against the book "God Can't." We had a nice lunch afterwards - salad and chicken feet. I've been asked to preach in two week's time.
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It is? Something I hadn't even considered. Baptist churches, in my experience, don't do things like Lent well. I'll check out the lectionary for appropriate readings. Thank you for wishing good luck.
You just never know
Blip, blip, blip....
Been under the weather this weekend so stayed home. Worship was online with the live webcast from First Metropolitan in Victoria. I have worshiped there in the past when visiting Victoria and always enjoy the pipe organ and grand piano that add so much to worship. Children's story was all about Joy and the kids were running around blowing bubbles and having a fun time. Something I miss at Hillhurst is they no longer have a Children's time as part of the worship service, the kids are let go after about 10 minutes to go to Kids Space Program. I remember in the past the energy of the kids was celebrated in worship with balloons and other fun stuff at Hillhurst. Anyway, the First Met sermon was by Rev. Shelagh MacKinnon and as this is Black History month she was preaching by reading portions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior's letter from a Birmingham Jail. Dr. King had received a letter from the Clergy of Birmingham condemning his being in their city, they basically said he should go home to Atlanta and not be rocking their boat. Dr. King responded that injustice anywhere affects us all. He went on to speak of biblical radicals like Amos and like Jesus. He spoke of taking it to the streets and loving those who hate you while they try to maintain their pecking order. Rev. MacKinnon concluded the sermon by suggesting Dr. King's letter from the Birmingham jail would be a good addition to the bible, as he was surely a great prophet. No fun being sick on the weekend, but real glad I tuned in to the First Met service as it had much to offer throughout.
Pinga
Room for All
I am not yet a member at the church that I attend. Would likely have done it at the last membership welcoming meetings, but, was busy.
Today was the AGM.
It was your classic church AGM, but a few things to share.
It is fairly common for the intro songs, the welcome, prayer, announcements, children's time, passing the peace to take 30 min. This is before offering, etc. Service regularly runs 90min. I must admit, I dont' mind. In fact, I enjoy the sermons, and the service.
Today was to be shortened, due to lunch, which meant --- it ended at 11:30 - hah!
I left the sanctuary early and helped with food watching, and setting out the bueffet -- which was nice to do, and also wow, what a spread. Nthing like a church potluck.
The meeting was good, but, was most interesting, was at the end, the minister went round the room and said positive items about EACH person. Yup, he did. They were meaningful, and welcomed. We are doing the Appreciative Inquiry program, and this was part of it but, wow...what an impact..
Today was the AGM.
It was your classic church AGM, but a few things to share.
It is fairly common for the intro songs, the welcome, prayer, announcements, children's time, passing the peace to take 30 min. This is before offering, etc. Service regularly runs 90min. I must admit, I dont' mind. In fact, I enjoy the sermons, and the service.
Today was to be shortened, due to lunch, which meant --- it ended at 11:30 - hah!
I left the sanctuary early and helped with food watching, and setting out the bueffet -- which was nice to do, and also wow, what a spread. Nthing like a church potluck.
The meeting was good, but, was most interesting, was at the end, the minister went round the room and said positive items about EACH person. Yup, he did. They were meaningful, and welcomed. We are doing the Appreciative Inquiry program, and this was part of it but, wow...what an impact..
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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Sounds like good things lie ahead for your church. Congratulations on receiving a flowering plant.
GiancarloZ
By Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone
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My wife and I went to the church that was recommended to her. Very disappointing.
They had a Hawaiian/Tropical style service that morning, which wasn't advertised on their website. Though I don't think this is heretical, it surely isn't our favorite worship style - we prefer the sober ones. And again, no one - I repeat, NO ONE - said good morning or asked for our names, including the minister. The service felt more like a Tropical-ish praise band concert, with lots of clapping and jokes from the pulpit. The sermon felt incomplete - the minister very successfully explained the historical context of the "Love your enemy" passage, but didn't say a thing about how it impacts or should impact our lives, our faith, etc. Overall, felt more like an amusing session in a cruise than a church worship service.
My wife isn't at ease with church-going, though she's trying, and this experience added on her one more layer of skepticism.
They had a Hawaiian/Tropical style service that morning, which wasn't advertised on their website. Though I don't think this is heretical, it surely isn't our favorite worship style - we prefer the sober ones. And again, no one - I repeat, NO ONE - said good morning or asked for our names, including the minister. The service felt more like a Tropical-ish praise band concert, with lots of clapping and jokes from the pulpit. The sermon felt incomplete - the minister very successfully explained the historical context of the "Love your enemy" passage, but didn't say a thing about how it impacts or should impact our lives, our faith, etc. Overall, felt more like an amusing session in a cruise than a church worship service.
My wife isn't at ease with church-going, though she's trying, and this experience added on her one more layer of skepticism.
Pinga
Room for All
@GiancarloZ -- it would be interesting to know why someone recommended this church to your wife -- maybe they have a habit of trying different things?
I also wonder, do you know if it was the minister, or was it a "special" service for some other reason.
I also wonder, do you know if it was the minister, or was it a "special" service for some other reason.
GiancarloZ
By Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone
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They recommended it to her saying the minister is a great preacher. I'd say the minister is half a great preacher because the sermon was really good but felt incomplete.
It was certainly a "special" service. But I've never seen anything like that - it's not what I think it's appropriate for worship. It really looked like a Summer cruise.
The more I go around the more it seems my current ELCIC parish is appropriate for me.
It was certainly a "special" service. But I've never seen anything like that - it's not what I think it's appropriate for worship. It really looked like a Summer cruise.
The more I go around the more it seems my current ELCIC parish is appropriate for me.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
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I've mellowed over the years on what can go on in a church service. The UU fellowship did have some interesting ones over the years, some of which I could even claim partial credit for. That said, this sounds a bit off to me, too.
As for not greeting, in our forays, people didn't really start talking to us until the second or third time. Maybe they feel reluctant in case it's just a drive-by, though I'd think even a drive-by could turn into a new member so should be greeted and welcomed.
GiancarloZ
By Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone
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I've been to jazz or bossa nova services in the past and loved it. So I'm not too strict about it. But Hawaiian/Tropical style was problematic in so many ways and layers...
I see what you mean and I can understand the average parishioner acting like that. But generally, churches have at least a group of people in charge of welcoming visitors. In Brazil that would include the minister. I can't go back to a church where nobody greeted me or asked my name. My wife felt the same.
The not being greeted thing can really sting. Sorry that happened to you and your wife @GiancarloZ. My family and I experienced same a number of years ago at a Baptist church in a small Alberta city where we lived for a time. We then started attending the local United Church. While our theology was a tad different than their's, there was just such a great feeling of love and welcome there.
GiancarloZ
By Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone
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BetteTheRed
Resident Heretic
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I think the Hawaiian tropical thing was probably just a "getting through" winter theme. Sometimes worship teams get tired and goofy. I sure wonder if folk visit us for the first time on Holy Humour Sunday!
However the lack of greeting seems very introverted. It's a tendency of UCCan churches when they're dying. They get sorta xenophobic, and they confuse hospitality/welcome with friendliness (usually to/with each other). I'm pretty sure when you guys 'land' for good, you'll find the 'best' place. In the meantime, the Lutheran sounds a good fit?
However the lack of greeting seems very introverted. It's a tendency of UCCan churches when they're dying. They get sorta xenophobic, and they confuse hospitality/welcome with friendliness (usually to/with each other). I'm pretty sure when you guys 'land' for good, you'll find the 'best' place. In the meantime, the Lutheran sounds a good fit?
paradox3
Peanuts Fan
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Good point. I need to be feeling pretty good about any church I am attending to make the effort to reach out to newcomers.
Mrs.Anteater
Just keep going....
Inthought the same thing- a getting through the winter with a beach theme. The way you describe the temperatures there, it sounds like a beach fantasy and some humor might be intended to beat the winter blahs and provide some fun.
This sounds to me like yet another sad case of a church existing to entertain its members. I hope that I'm wrong.